Japan gives Malawi K105m grant

The Government of Japan on Wednesday granted Malawi K105 million (about $350 000) for the implementation of agriculture and health projects in Dowa.

Japanese Ambassador Fujio Samukawa signed the grant on behalf of his government whereas chief local government officer Douglas Mkweta signed on behalf of Malawi Government at a ceremony held at the Japanese Embassy in Lilongwe.

Samukawa said the money is for a comprehensive rural development project based on transfer of environment friendly agricultural technology and improvement of public health implemented by Nippon International Cooperation for Community Development (Nicco) in the district.

“These funds are meant for a project in Dowa where Nicco is working with communities to improve their livelihoods in the areas of health, agriculture, education and development,” he said.

Nicco projects coordinator Yuko Harada said the grant will go towards income generating activities and capacity building in construction of boreholes for improved access to safe water and ecological sanitation toilets.

“We want people to have access to clean water. We will also construct ecological sanitation toilets that yield organic manure for improved sanitation and agricultural productivity,” she said.

Mkweta thanked the Japanese Government for the grant and assured the ambassador that government will ensure that the money is properly used.